Water-closet-elushiug apparatus



E. M. Buss, WATER CLOSET FLUSHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 18. 1917.

1 ,32 1,4 1 3. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

EBENEZER M. lanes, or BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

WATER-CLOSET-FLUSHING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11,- 1919.

Application filed October 18, 1917. Serial No. 197,185.

To all whom it may concern; 7

Be it known that I, EBENEZER M. Buss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Water- Closet- Flushi-ng Apparatus, of which the following is a specificatlon. This invention relates to an apparatus for flushing water closets, and it has for its object the provision of such an apparatus wh1ch 1S simple and compact 1n construction sothat the same can be produced'at comparatively low cost and is not liableto get out of order and can be readily built in or concealed w1th1n the wall of a building, and which will efficiently and thoroughly flush a water closet and combine the advantages of both an open water tank and a closed water tank.

-In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a water closetfiushing apparatus embodying an approved form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the correspondingly-numbercd line in Fig. 1, looking upwardly.

Similar characters of reference refer to like parts in both figures.

1 of this apparatus may be of any suitable construction, but as shown in the drawings the same preferably comprises a lower cast metal-section 2 having an integral bottom anu an upper wrought metal section 3 which is connected at its lower end with the upper end of the lower section by means of a screw joint and provided at its upper end with a movable screw cap 4t whereby access may be had to the interior of the tank, when necessary, for inspection, adjustment or repairs. At its lower end this water tank is provided with a water inlet 5. through which water may be supplied to the tank by means of a pipe 6 from a water main or any suitable source. v

At a suitable-distance above itswater inlet the storage tank is provided with a water outlet or passage which is valve-controlled. This water passage and its valve mechanism i'nay be variously constructed but as shown in the drawings, by way of example, the same comprises an externally-threaded col lar 7 arranged around awater outlet 8 in the side of the water tank, an externallytllreaded bushing 9 having a forwardlytapering conicalvalve seat 10 which is ar ranged in line with the outlet opening8 of the water tank,.and a nipple or tubular coupling 11 provided at its opposite ends with internal screw threads one of which engages with i the external thread of the collar 7 and the other with the external thread of said bushing Within. this passage is arranged a valve 12 which is preferably of forwardly-tapering conical form and adapted to be moved horizontally toward and from the seat 10 of the bushing for the purpose of closing or opening the water outlet passage of the water storage tank. :This valve is'preferably mounted upon a horizontal valve stem 13, 14 the rear end of which is guided in a bridge or cross piece 15 mounted on the interior of the nipple 11 and preferably formed integrally therewith for economy and convenience of manufacture.

When this valve is open, any water within the storage tank above the outlet ope-11- ing 8 will flow through the space between the valve and its housing or casing, which is formed by the nipple 11 and adjacent parts and when this valve is'closed the further escape of water is cut off, but at no time will the level of the water descend The main water supply or storage tank I below the water outlet openings, so that a quantity of water is always present in the lower part of the tank which will operate as a cushion into which the new incoming water from the service pipe will be directed and thus prevent the creation of any bub bling or churning noise which otherwise would be produced by the rushing in of water from the supply pipe into the completely emptied tank.

In the upper part of the storage tank is the purpose of permitting the storage tank to be filled with water to a suitable height and also to permit the water to promptly flow out 01": this tank. This a1r passage so organized that the same also forms part,

of the casing of the valve mechanism which controls this vent passage and the lower part of this air passage is arrangedimmediately above the water outlet of the tank while its upper end opens into the upper.

part of the tank above the normal water line therein. Although this air passage may be variously constructed that shown in the drawings comprises a. collar 16 surrounding an opening in the side of the storage tank and provided with an external and internal screw thread, an upright pipe 1'? arranged within the storage tank and provided at its lower end with an external screw-threaded elbow 18 which engages with the internal thread of the collar 16, while. its upper end is open and arranged within the upper part of the tank and retained in place therein by means of a bracket 19 projecting inwardly from the wall of the tank, anexternally screw threaded bushing 20 provided with a 'forward lytapering conical valve seat 21, and a nipple or tubular coupling having its opposite ends provided with internal screw threads one of which engages with the external thread of the collar 16 and the other with the external thread of the bushing 20, as shown in Fig. l. The valve 23 which controls this air passage is preferably of conical forwardly-tapering form and arranged within the valve casing formed partly by the nipple or coupling tube 22, and is movable horizontally into and out of engagement with the valve seat 21 for the purpose of closing or opening the air passage. The rear end of the stem 24-, 24- of this valve is guided in a cross piece or bridge 26 formed integrally with the sleeve or nipple 22 on theinterior thereof in the same manner in. which this is effected with reference to the water outlet valve previously described. While the water outlet 12 is open the air valve 23 is also open so as to admit air to the top of the storage tank and avoid the formation of a vacuum therein as the water flows out of the water tank through the water outlet passage, thereby permitting the discharge of the water to be effected promptly and quickly and effect a thorough flushing of the ole: Upon closing both the water valve and the air valve, the water delivered by the service pipe 6 into the storage tank will rise in the latter and compress the air which is trapped in the upper part of this tank until the maximum resistance has been reached after which the further inflow of water will cease.

It will thus be noted that by means of this construction the water tank is com.- pletely closed during the time that the same is being filled with a charge of water and therel'iy prevents the formation of any obj ectionable noise, but the instant the air and water valves are opened the water tank, in effect, becomes an open tank so as to permit the quick discharge of water therefrom, thereby combining the advantages both of a closed water tank and an open water tank of the types heretofore known.

The water and air valves are preferably opened simultaneously, or substantially so,

the water flows from the storage tank to the water closet and also in a conduit through which the air flows to and from the passage leading to the top of the storage tank. Accordingly, this valve mechanism and the manner of operating and mounting the same is preferably constructed as follows:

27 represents an upright operating chamher which is arranged in front of the water storage tank and which is provided at its lower end with a discharge pipe or passage 28 leading to the water closet while its upper end is closed by a detachable cover 29 and its rear side is provided with a lower water inlet opening 30 having an internal screw thread which receives the front part of the external threaded bushing 9 of the water valve mechanism and an upper internally-threaded opening 31 which receives the front part of the externally-threaded bushing 20 of the air valve mechanism. In the cover 29 is arranged an air inlet opening 32 which preferably receives a vent or ventilating pipe 33 extending above the highest water level in the tank 1 and leading to any suitable place and serving to permit air to enter and leave the operating chamber as the air passes back and forth between this chamber and the water tank through the ventilating passage leading to the top of the storage tank.

34: represents an upright operating shaft or spindle which is ournaled on the operating chamber so as to be capable of a horizontal rocking movement, the lower part of this shaft being arranged within the chamber and its upper part above the same and the journaling of this shaft being efiected by engaging its lower end with a pivot pin 3% projecting upwardly from the bottom of the operating chamber while the upper part of this shaft turns in an opening or bearing formed in the cover of the operating chamber. At its upper end and externally of the operating chamber, this shaft is provided with a handle or linger piece 36 for turnin the same and within this chamber this sllaft is provided with a crank which preferably is formed by two screw eyes or bolts 37 secured to the side of the shaft one above the other. To this crank is pivotally secured a yoke 38 which is capable of swinging horizontally in the same plane as the operating shaft, the pivotal. connection between this yoke and the crank being. preferably effected by providing the inner end of the yoke with, upwardly or downwardly projecting pivot pins or trunnions 39 which engage respectively with the eyes of the bolts 37 forming the crank. At its outer end this yoke is provided with an upright slot L0 in which is arranged an equalizer 11 which is operatively connected with the water and air valves. This equalizer is preferably constructed in the form of an upright lever which has its central part arranged in and pivotally connected with the slotted part of the yoke by means of a horizontal pivot pin 42 passing transversely through the yoke and the central part of the equalizing lever. The lower'arm of the latter is pivotally connected by means of a pin 43 with the front end of the stem of the water valve and the upper arm of the same is similarly connected by means of a pin 44: with the front end of the stem of the air valve.

Upon turning the operating shaft backwardly, its crank will carry the yoke in the same direction which movement will in turn be transmitted by the equalizing lever to both water and air valves and cause both the water outlet and air passage of the water tank to be opened, so that the charge of water in the latter will be permitted to flow through the operating chamber andthe discharge pipe of the latter to the water closet and air will be permitted at the same time to pass from the external atmosphere into the upper part of the storage tank to compensate for the water issuing therefrom and prevent any retarding effect on the outflow of such water. Upon turning the operating shaft forwardly, this movement is transmitted by the crank, yoke and equalizing lever to the valves, so that they are closed and thereby cause the water tank to be again filled with another charge of water preparatory to efi'ecting the next flushing operation.

Inasmuch as both valves move outwardly against their seats, the pressure of the water and the compressed air within the storage tank operates constantly to hold these valves a ainst their seats, thereby reducing to a minimum the liability of leakage and insuring satisfactory operation of this flushing apparatus. 7

In order to permit of easily opening the water valve and insure a prompt and quick discharge of the water from the storage tank to the closet, the water valve and its port or seat are made comparatively large, but the air valve and its seat or port are made comparatively small. As the result of differential in areas of these valves the predominating pressure of the water against the back of the water valve will cause the water valve to be held shut momentarily after the air valve has been opened during the first part of the backward movement of the operating shaft, during which time the equalizing lever rocks on the yoke, but after the initial opening movement of the air valve has been effected, the lower part of the yoke preferably at the lower corner between the back of the slot and the underside of the yoke, as indicated at 45, forms a stop which engages with the lower arm of the equalizing lever and thereafterpushes the same rearwardly positively together with the upper arm thereof, so that the further backward movement of the operating shaft causes the water valve to be opened with the air valve, thereby permitting the escape of water from the tank at the lower end thereof, while air is entering the upper end of the same. It will be obvious that by means of this equalizing lever both valves are capable of properly engaging their seats and closing their respective passages independently of each other, and they are also simultaneously moved away from these seats for opening these passages fully, although they are operated from the same shaft,

thereby materially simplifying the construetion of this operating mechanism.

In order to facilitate the settingof these valves when they are originally assembled,

and also to permit subsequent correction or adjustment of the same, relatively to each other, or for taking up wear if this at any time should be necessary, one or both of these valves has its stem madein sections which are adjiistably connected'so as to permit of shortening or lengthening the stem. As shown in the drawings, the stems of both of the water and air valves are providedwith adjusting means, but if only one such adjustment is provided thesame is preferably associated with the air valve because the same is more readily accessible from the top of the operating chamber after the covei" of the latter has been removed. Asshown in Fig. 1, the valve-stem ofthe air valve comprises the two sections'QA, 25 which are connected respectively with the air valve and the upper arm of the equalizing lever and a screw sleeve or nipple 46 having a screw connection with the opposing ends of the stem sections Q-l, 25 of the air valve. As shown, these valve stem sections are provided with right and left hand screw threadswhich cooperate with corresponding threads in said sleeve, whereby a turning movement of the latter in one direction or the other will cause this valve stem to be shortened or lengthened, but if threads all run in the same direction in which case either one of these stein sections may be screwed into this sleeve or out of the same, for the purpose of shortening oi lengthening the stem as a whole. 131 similar.

desired these screw In the absence of anyf'novision to prevent it,the operating shaft after being turned Ill backwardly for opening the water and air valves would immediately be turned for wardly and the water and air valves would close if the backward hand pressure of the operator were removed at this time, thereby stopping the discharge of the water from the tank into the closet before the latter had been properly flushed. In order to prevent the innnediate closing of the air and water valves, even though the backward hand pre ire of the operator is removed, a water controlled retarding mechanism is provided which is preferably constructed as follows:

'18 represents a ratchet wheel which is se cured to the upper part of the operating shaft. 49 represents a locking or detent dog which is adapted to move into and out of engegement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. T his dog is arranged on the upper arm of a rock lever 50 which is arranged in the front part of the'operating chamber and pivoted by means of a horizontal pin 51 to supporting lugs 52 arranged on the inner side of this chamber. On the lower arm of this rock lever is arranged a pressure wing 53 which is arranged in the path of the stream. of water as it flows across the lower end of the operating chamber from the inlet thereof to the outlet of the same. 54: represents a spring which normally tends to turn the rock lever in the direction in which the detent dog is disengaged from the ratchet wheel, this spring in its preferred form being secured to the lower end of the rock lever and engaging with the adjacent part of the operating chamber.

ivhen free, the operating shaft constantly tends to turn in a forward direction under the action of a spring 55 which aids the air and water pressure in the storage tank in holding the air and water valves tightly against their seats. In the preferred form this last-mentioned spring is constructed in the form of a coil which surrounds the upper part of the operating shaft and is secured at its upper end in the top of the operating chamber while its lower end is secured to the ratchet wheel, as shown in Fig. 1.

When both the air and water valves are closed, and no water is flowing through the operating chamber, then the spring 54: turns the rock lever in the direction for disengaging the dog from the ratchet wheel. however the operating shaft has been turned l'iackwardly, so that the air and water valves are both open, and the water is flowing from the storage tank through the lower part of the operating chamber to the water closet, then the pressure of the stream of water against the wing of the rock lever, causes the latter to be turned in the direction for engaging the detent dog with the ratchet wheel, as indicated in Fig. 1, thereby holding the operating shaft against forward rotation and retaining the valves in their open position notwithstanding that the backward pressure of the hand of the operator has been removed from the handle. The parts remain in this position until the batch of water has been discharged from the storage tank to the closetand no further water pressure is exerted against the wing, at which time the spring 54 turns the rock lever so as to disengage the dog from the ratchet wheel after which the spring 55 turns the operating shaft forwardly and moves both the water and air valves against their seats so as to again seal the storage tank and cause the same to be filled with another charge of water.

In order to cause the mechanism intermediate of the rock shaft and the valves to exert a straight pull upon these valves, this rock shaft is journaled out of line With the center of the operating chamber and sufficiently on one side of the center lines of the valves and their seats, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the crank of this shaft exerts a forward pull on the valves through the medium of the intermediate connecting mechanism, this pull will be substantially straight relative to the axes in center of these valves and thereby cause the same to bear evenly and uniformly and insure a proper closure of the same, so that no leakage occurs.

My improved Water closet flushing device is particularly advantageous owing to the absence of float controlled valves or suction valves, also on account of the simplicity of its construction, the freedom from getting out of order, the ease with which the same can be operated and the effectiveness of its cleaning operation.

I claim as my invention: a

1. A closet flushing apparatus comprising a water tank permanently closedat its upper end and having a water inlet at its lower end, a water outlet above its lower end and an air passage above said water outlet, said water outlet and air passage being independent of each other, and Water and air valves arranged outside of said water tank and controlling said water outlet and air passage.

2. A closet flushing apparatus comprising a water tank permanently closed at the top and having a. water inlet at its lower end, a Water outlet above its lower end and,

an air passage having its lower end ar ranged immediately above said water outlet and its upper end opening into the upper end of said water tank, said Water outlet and air passage being independent of each other, and water and air valves arranged outside of said water tank and controlling said water outlet and air passage.

3. A water closet flushing apparatus com prising a water tank having a water inlet at its lower end, a water outlet above its lower end, and an air passage which has its lower end arranged immediately above said water outlet and its upper end opening into the upper part of said tank, water and air valves arranged outside of said tank and controlling said water outlet and air passage, means for operating said valves and a chamber communicating with said water outletand air passage and having a discharge passage and inclosing said means which operate said valves.

41. A water closet flushing apparatus com prising a water tank having a water inlet at its lower end, a water outlet above its lower end, and an air passage which has its lower end arranged immediately above said water outlet and its upper end opening into the upper part of said tank, water and air valves for controlling said water outlet and air passages, and means for operating said valves comprising a rock shaft having a crank, a yoke pivoted on said crank, and an equalizer pivoted on said yoke and connected on opposite sides of its pivots with said valves.

5. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a water tank having a water inlet at its lower end, a water outlet above its lower end, and an air passage which has its lower end arranged immediately above said water outlet and its upper end opening nto the upper part of said tank, water and air valves for controlling said wateroutlet and air passages, and means for operating said valves comprising a rocklshaft having a crank, a yoke pivoted on said crank and having a stop, and an equalizer lever pivoted between its endson said yoke in position to engage its lower arm with said stop and havitg its opposite arms connected with said valves, respectively. 7

6. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a water tank having a water inlet at its lower end, a water outlet above its lower end and at the side thereof, and an air passage arranged above said water outlet and at the side of said tank, an operating chamber communicating with said water outlet and air passage and provided below said water outlet with a discharge passage, water and air valves for controlling said water outlet and air passage, an operating shaft arranged in said operating chamber and provided within the same with a crank and externally thereof with a handle and intermediate means operatively connecting said crank with said valves.

7. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a water tank having a water inlet at its lower end, a water outlet above its lower end and at the sides thereof, and an air passage arranged above said water outlet and at the side of said tank, an operating chamber communicating with said water outlet and air passage and provided below sa d water outlet with a vd1scharge passage, water and air valves for controlling said water outlet and air passage, an operating shaft arranged in said opera-ting chamber and provided w1th1n the same with a crank and externally thereof with a. handle, intermediate means operatively connecting said lower end, and an air passage arranged above said water outlet, an operating chamber communicating with said. water outlet and air passage and provided below said water outlet with a discharge passage, water and, air valves for controlling said water outlet and air passage, an operating shaft arranged in said operating chamber and provided within the'same with a crank and externally thereof with a handle, intermediate means operatively connecting said crank with said valves and means for retarding the closureof said valves comprising a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft within said chamber, and a dog which is responsive to the pressing of the stream of water flowing through said chamber and engages said ratchet wheel for preventing backward rotation of said shaft.

9. A'water close flushing apparatus comprising a water tank having .a water inlet at its lower end, awater outlet above its lower end, and an air passage arranged above said water outlet, an operating chamber communicating with said water outlet and air passage and provided below said water outlet with a discharge passage, water and air valves for controlling said water outlet and air passage, an operating shaft arranged in said operating chamber and provided within the same with a crank and externally thereof with a handle, intermediate means open atively connecting said crank with said valves and means for retarding the closure of said valves comprising a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft within said chamber,

a dog adapted to engage with said ratchet wheel,.a rock lever carrying said dog, and a wing arranged on said lever in the path of the water flowing through said chamber.

10. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a water tank having a water inlet at its, lower end, a water outlet above its lower end, and an air passage arranged above said water outlet, an operating chamber communicating with said water outlet and air passage and provided below said water outlet with a discharge passage, water and air 7 valves for controlling said water outlet and air passage, an operating shaft arranged in said operating chamber and provided within the same with a crank and externally thereof with a handle, intermediate means operatixelv connecting said crank with said valves and means for retarding the closure of said valves crnnprising a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft within said chamber, a dog adapted to engage with said ratchet wheel, a rock lever carrying said dog, a wing arranged on said lever in the path of the water flowing through said chamber and a spring operating constantly to turn said shaft forwardly.

11. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a water tank having a water inlet at its lower end, a water outlet above its lower end, and an air passage arranged above said water outlet, an operating chamber connnu nicating with said water outlet and air passage and provided below aid water outlet with a discharge passage, water and air valves for controlling said water outlet and air passage, an operating shaft arranged in said operating chamber and provided within the same with a crank and externally thereof with a handle, intermediate means operatively connecting said crank with said valves and means for retarding the closure of said valves comprising a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft within said chamber, a dog adapted to engage with said ratchet wheel, a rock lever carrying said dog, a wing arranged on said lever in the path of the water flowing through said chamber, a spring operating constantly to turn said shaft forwardly and a spring operating to turn said rock lever in the direction for disengaging said dog from said ratchet wheel.

12-. A water closet flushing apparatus comprising a water tank having a water inlet at its lower end, awater outlet above its lower end and at the side thereof, and an air passage arranged above said water outlet and at the side of said tank, an operating chamber communicating with said water outlet and air passage and provided below said water outlet with a discharge passage, water and air valves for controlling said water outlet and air passage, on operating shaft arranged in said operating chamber and provided within the same with a crank and externally thereof with a handle, interme- 'diate means opera-tivel connecting said crank with said valves and a vent pipe connccted with the upper part of said operating chamber.

1211i water closet flushingapparatus comprising a water tank having a water inlet at its lower end, a water outlet above its lower end, and an air passage arranged above said water outlet, an operating chamber communicating with said water outlet and air passage and provided below said water outlet with a discharge passage, water and air valves for controlling said water outlet and air passages, valve stems on which said valves are mounted, the valve stem of said air valve having two threaded sections one of which carries the air valve and a screw sleeve connecting said valve stem sections, an operating shaft having a crank and intermediate means connecting said crank with said valve stems.

14. A water closet flushing apparatus com prising a water tank having a water inlet at its lower end, a water outlet above its lower end, an air passage arranged above said water outlet, an operating chamber communicating with said waterioutlet and air passage and provided below said water outlet with a discharge passage, said water outlet and air passage each comprising a bushing having an external screw thread and an internal valve seat and a nipple provided with an internal screw thread engaging said bushing and an internal guide bridge, water and air valves adapted to move toward and from the valve seats of said water outlet and air passages, respectively, and each provided with a valve stem which is guidecl at itsrear end on the guide bridge of the respective nipple, a rock shaft ]ournaled in said chamber and provided with a crank, and intermediate means connecting aid crank with the front ends of said valve stems.

EBENEZER M. BLISS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Eatents, Washington, DIG. 

